Scientists warn that if a new space race begins between countries or private companies, it could lead to a sharp increase in their numbers in orbit. This, in turn, means significant problems caused by their combustion in our planet’s atmosphere.
Satellite fall
Do you like living near a waste incineration plant? Scientists warn that soon the entire Earth’s atmosphere may have characteristics similar to the air near such enterprises. The reason for this may be a sharp increase in the number of spacecraft operating in orbit.
Launching a satellite is no longer considered a huge achievement. There are already more than 15,000 devices in orbit. It’s already a problem for scientists because they interfere with astronomical observations. And a collision between even two of them could cause Kessler syndrome.
However, the greatest concern is that they will all fall to Earth and burn up in the atmosphere. Or rather, they may not do so, but that option is even worse. And although it is now believed that this is done in the safest possible way, fears about what might happen in the future are indeed well-founded.
Space race
Scientists see the main threat in the possibility of a new space race. Regardless of whether they are conducted between superpowers or mega-corporations, there is still a risk that the number of spacecraft launched into space, and therefore those that will fall to Earth, could jump to a million.
And in fact, this process is not at all environmentally friendly. Every satellite that is destroyed causes significant damage to the Earth’s ozone layer. It is very difficult to restore. In addition, satellites do not burn up completely; a significant portion of their hull material is transformed into tiny, hard particles.
In terms of their characteristics, they are very similar to the formally clean air emitted by waste incineration plants during operation, because they are formed as a result of similar processes. This applies in particular to finely dispersed aluminum oxide.
These processes are still within normal limits. However, in the future, the process may become uncontrollable. All this makes us wonder whether it would be worth restricting the issuance of licenses for their launch at this point.
According to phys.org
